Monday, January 2, 2012

A Tour of Evi's Christmas Cottage


Welcome to my dear friend Evi's beautiful home...
...all decorated for Christmas!

For those of you who don't already know,
 Evi is an accomplished and renowned doll maker.
Throughout you will see her one of a kind, incredible dolls,
 Santas, snowgirls, rabbits, etc.


 I love this scrubbed pine cupboard that we see 
when we first walk into the sunroom at the back of the house.
Evi has a beautiful, fresh, clean
(and I mean spotlessly clean)
  European look to her home. 
(After all she was born and raised in Germany!)



I have often posted photos of Evi's lovely home but perhaps you are new to this blog or maybe you would just like to see how she decorated her home this year!

 She kept color to a minimum on the main floor...
almost a "Jeanne D'arc Living" look...

 I could give you a play by play,
 photo by photo explanation ...
...but I will spare you ...
relax and enjoy!








Apparently I can't keep quiet for long...
Isn't her mantle decorated so pretty?
Each year, it is a little different...
Those cheeses on the platter, by the way, were delicious!


Bowls, baskets and other containers are filled
 with pine boughs, greens and sparkle!




The dining room...
This is where we sat and enjoyed the most fabulous meal...
all prepared by Evi, also a gourmet cook!
Poor Mr. Flea...it's back to reality for him.










Their bedroom...this year in black and white!








The guest room...


touches of red...







Even the bathroom is elegantly decorated!



Downstairs in the family room...
there is more of her favorite color...red.

The window to the right opens up into her studio...
where Evi creates and all the magic happens!


The door in the back leads into another bathroom...
 ...newly remodeled!





More of Evi's extraordinary Santas...


OK...that's all for now....a 45 picture post!
I guess I should have warned you at the start...

Evi has so many talents and gifts...
I admire them all.
One of the talents she possesses, one that I have none of...
 is the ability to edit.

There is no clutter in her home...
none, nada, zip.
Mr. Flea surely would appreciate that talent,
 as well as the gourmet cooking skills that Evi exhibits.
He's still happily munching on the big box of
 homemade cookies she sent home with us. 

Sigh.
I know they say we can't do it all...
but Evi can!


Thank you Evi and Eb for a wonderful afternoon
 and for treating us like royalty!


And, thank you friends and readers for stopping by.
Hope you enjoyed our visit!
:)

56 comments:

  1. Just gorgeous. I love how she mixes the white, pine and red. So many pretty things, especially her dolls and that tree in the guest room. I almost fainted over that stand! Happy New Year

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  2. Not only is Evi's home absolutely gorgeous, it also has great flow and continuity from room to room and I love that! How wonderful to be able to spend time here. Thank you for sharing! And 45 pictures were not too many!

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  3. Just gorgeous..I love all of it..And 45 photos later I am wishing for more..Have a great week..Truly enjoyed the tour..

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  4. Wowie! She s very talented!
    Your photos are amazing as well!
    Thanks for bringing this to us!

    xoxo
    Andie

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  5. Laura, I love her home. I could just pack my bags and move in and not change anything. Her dining room is wonderful and that room with the checked bedding is yummy. Thanks for sharing this.

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  6. That is just gorgeous!! I really love white with so much natural wood. Beautiful!!

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  7. oh goodness, Laura....I am amazed at all the really beautiful pictures!!!!! Do I really live there? When did you get to do them all? I loved our special day and look already forward to the next one.
    Thank you my dear friend.We had soooooo much fun, as we always do when we are all together.
    You know how much I love you all!!!!!!!!!
    I just had to show it all to Ebbie who loved it too....he said ..."she has an artists eye, and a very good camera".
    With all my love, Evi and Ebbie too.
    PS. Tell Rob to be a good boy and share the cookies.....

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  8. I am speechless! Beautiful...enough said. Tiffany

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  9. Wow -- just, wow! An amazingly beautiful home. And her dolls -- the way she dresses them!! Amazing talent!

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  10. Wow that was incredible. I think I must have missed a lot because I don't remember some of the dolls. Evi is not only talented but the best hostess ever. It's nice to be spoiled sometimes.
    How lucky are we?
    Evi is so funny ....do I really live there?
    yes I agree with them you have an artist eye!

    hugs
    Carole

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  11. What a charming place! It looks so wintery and warm at the same time.

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  12. How very beautiful - a sense of tranquillity exudes from your beautifully taken photographs - thank you (both) for sharing. Wishing you a very Happy New Year

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  13. Love all of your fabulous pictures Laura simply beautiful ~ what a wonderful house the decorations were splendid
    Happy New year
    xxoo
    Pam

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  14. Gorgeous!!! I love all of the topiaries, rustic baskets and wood, and white decor! ♥ Thanks so much for all of the inspiration!

    xoxo laurie

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  15. Thank you for the lovely tour! Red is my favorite color too and it was wonderful to see it used in so many beautiful ways. Love all the inspiration!

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  16. Thank you Laura for the lovely tour of Evi's house. I just love how her home is decorated and I love her dolls, one day I will need to purchase one of my own, Hugs Mary

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  17. Sublime . . . thank you so much for sharing all these lovely photos . . . Happy New Year!

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  18. Wow! What beautiful taste Evi has! Her house looks so tranquil and calming even from the photo's. I love so many of the ideas I spotted. Thanks so much for sharing :)

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  19. that is one talented woman! Thanks for the tour. happy new year

    MC

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  20. evi's home is charming and so beautiful! it's obvious that someone full of love and grace lives there.

    hugs,

    shelley

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  21. Thank you and Evi for the tour of this beautiful and inspirational home...wishing you a healthy and happy New Year.

    Jermaine

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  22. Evi's home is charming and incredibly lovely...thanks so much for sharing it!

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  23. Wow.
    Beautiful.
    I love the beams in the rooms...and the shots of linens here and there.
    Of course, her dolls are so wonderful. Perfect.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Nancy

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  24. Beautiful home indeed with lots of natural light flowing through those windows! And, loving all the pine cupboards and the dolls are beautiful.

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  25. Thank you for sharing. I loved the tour and inspiration. I so wish I could be like Evi, letting go of the things I really don't need. Happy New Year! Hugs! Florence

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  26. merci beaucoup ^pour cette jolie promenade.....on s'y installerait bien!
    Meilleurx Voeux Pour 2012
    Biz

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  27. Die Schneefrauen sind ja sensationell schoen ! Liebe Gruesse aus Deutschland schickt Jacqueline

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  28. Please don't apologise for the number of pics. I'm sure we would have enjoyed even more. Thank you for the tour around Evi's home. It's absolutely beautiful.

    Really must get on with the spring cleaning now...! xx

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  29. Oh how beautiful !!!!!! A German lady, that explains alot!! My mom was born and raised in Germany and I am a first generation American, my mom was super talented too....me not so much, smiles, Linda

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  30. HAPPY NEW YEARS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, LAURA,
    You do have a very artistic eye and the photographs of Evi's home are so very graceful and elegant. The picture of their bedroom is sooo comforting with the white curtains.
    I will visit her blog and those beautiful dolls.
    hugs

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  31. Wow! What a gorgeous winter wonderland. All of her touches are just amazing! She belongs in Country Living magazine!

    Jeanine

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  32. If ever a home said welcome her's is it....love the little dining/sunroom area!!! Got your note,thank you and wishing you and your family nothing but happy times in 2012...you are such a lovely person Laura!!! x0x0

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  33. Thank you soooo much for the lovely tour.
    What a beautiful home and such a talented lady.

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  34. Fabulous, and I love that even though red is her favorite color, she uses it sparingly. I adore her design sense! very very talented lady!

    A very Happy New Years to you and yours!

    Please come and enter my Giveaway from Serena & Lily.

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  35. It must be a feeling like in wonderland beeing @ Evis's beautiful decorated home! I wish I could visit her myself! This first picture is so awesome, love her snowladies so very much!
    You really honored your friend Evi with these gorgeous photos dear Laura!
    So much to pin now on my White Vintage Christmas inspiration board! :)
    xoxo~ Carola

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  36. What a gorgeously decorated house! I wish I could visit it too! Thanks for sharing it with us!AriadnefromGreece!

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  37. What a delight for the eyes! Thank you for taking such beautiful pictures for all us to enjoy! How talented you both are!

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  38. Dear Laura,
    this was a wonderful visit at dear Evi`s home- I LOVE every picture, and would have loved even more :)
    She lives like in a dream, and I admire all her handmade items, and how she decorate with them all over her beautiful home.
    She is a dear friend and a lovely woman.
    Thankyou for all your gorgeous photoes ,I have already enjoyed them several times.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  39. 45 photos....and I wanted more! Beautiful home; beautiful pictures. Judy B. Texas

    Happy New Year all!! Be Blessed....

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  40. Thank you for taking the time to share Evi's lovely home, every detail was perfect!

    xox

    Glad & Celia

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  41. Love, love, love it!!! Love Evi!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B
    xx

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  42. Discovered Evi recently and can only agree, what a fantastic home she has! I told her this recently upon discovering her. One talented lady.
    Suzy x

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  43. Dear Laura, this lovely post has compelled me to comment...what a beautiful and warm, lovingly decorated home Evi has created. It was a treat to see after the rush of the holidays. Evi is very special, not only in her talented creations, but also they way her love of what she does translates into her home. What I aspire too! N.xox

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  44. Thanks for sharing!Loved it all!!!

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  45. Thanks so much for the tour, Laura! Evi's home and decorations are quite charming. I can just imagine how relaxing it must be to visit there.

    Happy New Year to you and yours!

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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  46. I simply can't get over her talent. Her home is like a dream! Thanks so much for sharing Evi and Laura - you are both such an inspiration!

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  47. I could look at these photos for hours, there is so much to see. I love the white interior warmed with all the scrubbed pine pieces!! And her dolls...mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!!

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  48. Laura, I'm so glad you didn't edit out any of the photos. What an incredible treat to see more of Evi's charming home. She is one of my favorites! I admire her talent and cherish her friendship. She is a dear!
    This will be a post I return to time and again. I love to study her style.
    Thanks again for sharing this with all of us. ~ Sarah

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  49. dearest Laura,I am overwhelmed and touched with all the lovely comments so many of your followers and friends left about our home.My thanks go out to everyone and a very big thanks to you for your beautiful photography and your sweet comments.
    You know I decorate the house really for myself. But I do take delight in also sharing it with everyone, family and friends, and now through our blogs.
    And my sweet friend, I don't do everything perfectly...if I were to knit a scarf, it would turn into a throw,since I am not good at that....and Lord, I am totally computer challenged...I could go on and on...
    I am just happy to make people feel welcome to our home.
    Thank you again for everything!!!!!!
    With all my love,
    Evi

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  50. Beautiful!!! I have several European scrubbed pines antiques. That is my all time favorite look. I also really love her checked fabric throughout....not to mention how the red warms the entire look. She doesn't have clutter but she does have numerous charming details that make this a little world of it'sown without feeling stark. I'll be returning to admire these photos often! Very inspirational. Thank you for sharing.

    Kathy

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  51. Just gorgeous! What is wrong with me that I wish the Christmas season could last the whole winter?

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  52. Thank you for the beautiful tour of Evi's Christmas home. I'm late for the celebration but feel blessed to just have had a second Christmas through your clever eye & hard work.

    Love this site,

    S

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  53. Oh my, what an absolutely gorgeous home your friend Evi has. She goes to a lot of trouble to decorate every area, but it is so beautifully done, it is not too much. Her creations are fabulous too. Thankyou to Evi and to you for sharing. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2012 will be good to you. I love visiting your blog, with love, Linda x

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  54. Laura- these photos ate amazing. I saw the ones that Carole also shared on her blog--- your friend's home is spectacular. Your photos are incredible-- I love every single one. All I can say is Wow! What a wonderful place to visit!!
    Thanks so much for sharing-- I've loved seeing these photos!
    Vicki

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